Max Verstappen doesn’t just like to deliver great performances on the track. He also likes to deliver jolt after jolt for both his rivals and his fans. Previously having hinted at an early retirement, it came out as a shock to the years coming from the mouth of a 25-year-old two-time champion. And now it’s his boss of over seven years who has dropped the hint about early retirement for the Dutchman.

Expressing his contentment with the championships won so far, Max wants to live a simple life, probably after the end of his contract at Red Bull in 2028. But the additional factors that are pushing him towards calling it quits are the decisions being taken by the sporting authorities. Be it over the number of races in a season or the formats. Max Verstappen holds strong opinions and doesn’t want anything hampering F1’s DNA.

Amidst all this, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has said that he doesn’t see his star driver competing in his 40s, much like how the 41-year-old Fernando Alonso is doing. As per F1Maximaal from Sky Sports, Horner said, “Max is his own boss. He has a very clear opinion about what he wants to do in his life. I don’t see him, like Alonso, still racing at the age of 41. At least not in Formula 1.”

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The statement is another testament to Verstappen’s wish of competing in rallies alongside his father, the former F1 driver, Jos Verstappen. Eyeing that, all the pressure from external factors will only push the Dutchman towards the edge until he eventually retires.

What will keep Max Verstappen racing in F1?

Max Verstappen is a man born for racing. Even during the breaks, he is often seen streaming and racing online. So, where does the FIA play a role in his career ahead? Max believes if the structure changes, he won’t be around for a long time since the structure of the sport would’ve changed drastically and no longer be the one that would’ve made him and others fall in love.

To keep the Dutchman in the sport, his boss, Horner, believes passion is important. As quoted by GP Blog, he said, “If he is not racing on the track at the moment, he is racing in the virtual world, he is driving GT cars for fun, and his passion is just driving and racing. As long as that remains his hobby, he will continue.”

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However, this passion might remain subject to how the sport evolves. With the ability inside of him that we’ve seen so far, undoubtedly there are plenty of years inside Max, but passion is something that rests beyond everyone but the FIA and F1’s control.